Taco Lasagna: Pantry Possibilities
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Having a foundation for your favorite dishes allows you to make the things you love several different ways. Sometimes, it’s about combining items creatively in order to avoid food waste. Other times, it’s simply about trying to use what you already have on hand. When trips to the grocery store are limited, or you just plain don’t have time, it’s comforting to be able to find alternatives to the dishes you love.
Taco lasagna is a dish that boasts flexibility. When it comes to building this lasagna, the possibilities are numerous. In the video below, you will see that I created a vegetarian version, using items I had in my pantry. However, this is only one of many ways you can prepare this lasagna. Read on to discover your own creative take on this dish.
The chart below compares my vegetarian recipe to the varied ingredients you may choose to create your taco lasagna:
| Vegetarian Taco Lasagna Ingredients | Substitutions and Other Options |
“Noodles”
|
“Noodles”
nutrition tip: try to use whole grain products if possible
|
|
“Meat” Vegetarian Mix
nutrition tip: you can substitute rice for quinoa – brown is best – OR omit this step and add more sweet potato
|
“Meat”
nutrition tips:
|
|
Spice It Up Spice Blend
|
Spice It Up Alternative Spice Options
nutrition tips:
|
|
Other Layers Cheese
Sauce
|
Other Layers Cheese
Sauce
|
You’ve shopped your pantry and freezer and have chosen what you will use to create your taco lasagna. Preheat your oven to 375° F. While your oven preheats, you can mix together your vegetarian ingredients or brown your meat in your spice blend (and vegetables, beans, or mushrooms). Now, you’re ready to build your lasagna.
BUILD
Layer 1 – Sauce: In your baking pan or dish, first coat the bottom with whatever you’ve chosen to add moisture (enchilada sauce, salsa, taco sauce, etc.).
Layer 2 – “Noodles”: Layer in half your tortillas or noodles.
Layer 3 – “Meat”: Layer in half of your “meat” portion.
Layer 4 – Cheese: Evenly sprinkle half of your cheese.
Repeat: I repeated these layers one additional time (two total) for the results below:
TOP of dish
| Cheese |
| “Meat” |
| “Noodles” |
| Sauce |
| Cheese |
| “Meat” |
| “Noodles” |
| Sauce |
BOTTOM of dish
BAKE
When your oven has preheated to 375° F, bake for 30 to 45 minutes until cheese is bubbling and internal temperature is 165° F at the middle. I baked my lasagna covered with aluminum foil for the first 30 minutes and baked uncovered for another 15.
ENJOY!
Remove your lasagna from the oven and let stand for about 5 minutes, then serve. Serve yours with guacamole, salsa, a handful of leafy green lettuce, a scoop of Greek yogurt, anything you would normally serve with tacos, and enjoy!